{"id":3741,"date":"2026-01-04T23:53:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T22:53:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/skolasachu.com\/?p=3741"},"modified":"2026-01-08T00:47:26","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T23:47:26","slug":"carlsens-blitz-monopoly-continues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/skolasachu.com\/en\/carlsenuv-rychlostni-monopol-pokracuje\/","title":{"rendered":"Carlsen's blitz monopoly continues!"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the Qatari capital, the world elite gathered after nine years to once again compete in rapid and blitz chess. Over 250 players participated in the World Championship! After a one-year \u201eNew York denim break,\u201c Magnus Carlsen won both titles again, effectively reigning over world rapid and blitz chess for fifteen years.<\/p>\n

We may have many reservations about Magnus's behaviour, we may admire him boundlessly, but two of his main qualities, which have long made him a legend, cannot be denied: the character of an exemplary Alekhine-style fighter and a brilliant, almost Capablanca-like intuition.<\/p>\n

The only other two-time World Championship medallist, Arjun Erigaisi, declared a few years ago: \u201eIt is clear that today\u2019s play is better than in the past.\u201c On the contrary, I believe that the quality of the game itself \u2013 and this is especially evident in blitz \u2013 is gradually declining. Rapid and especially blitz are primarily entertainment for the spectators, and this time they really got their money\u2019s worth!<\/p>\n

A more serious account of the dramatic battles with analyses and demonstrations of key moments can be approached in several ways, but if the reader is to learn anything, we simply cannot avoid the basic division into rapid and blitz. I know that today is a \u201edifferent time,\u201c but still\u2026 I dislike analysing blitz games. I prefer to leave the enjoyment of blunders, which inevitably accompany \u201ehitting the clock,\u201c to others \ud83d\ude42. Nevertheless, I would like to start somewhat unconventionally\u2026<\/p>\n

Fingering and piglets<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

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In the critical time trouble of blitz, it is important not only to keep a cool head and board awareness, but also, if possible, not to knock over pieces \u201eevery other move\u201c<\/strong>. I have seen a lot in my life and of course it is true that \u2013 even though I tried my best \u2013 I did not always have my day. However, I have seen excellent blitz players with my own eyes, who were a joy to watch. Even in the most severe time trouble \u2013 literally on the flag (back then blitz was played 2x5 minutes without any increment) \u2013 they managed to place pieces in the centre of squares!<\/p>\n

As their direct opposite, there existed, to put it mildly, so-called \u201epiglets.\u201c I divided them into several groups. The so-called \u201epure piglets\u201c at most shook the table, knocked over (sometimes even deliberately) pieces, or even the clocks themselves fell to the floor! You may ask why I used the adjective \u201epure.\u201c Well, because there was also the exact opposite. Of course, I will not name names. Tricks like the move king to king<\/em> in lost positions I have not only seen but also experienced personally.<\/p>\n

What was it about? In a lost position in severe time trouble, the opponent makes an illegal move (the king moves to your king). If you notice it, you have won anyway. If not, the opponent claims that you<\/strong> made the last move illegally! Of course, the appropriate conditions must be met for this. For example: spectators are either not present, or\u2026 the \u201edirty piglet\u201c is watched by like-minded friends.<\/p>\n

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Diagrams \u2013 schemes illustrate the practices of the \u201edirty piglet.\u201c White plays Ka6<\/strong>. In reality, there were usually many more pieces on the board, which made the situation much more confusing. And also, playing without increment on mechanical clocks was a different kind of drama than it is today!<\/em><\/p>\n

Decades ago \u2013 in the immediate post-revolutionary period \u2013 it was also common practice to bring your own equipment to tournaments. I saw modified mechanical clocks on which 5 minutes passed in 3.5 minutes!<\/p>\n

A much more widespread vice of the second group of \u201epiglets,\u201c however, was the unjustified pressing of the clock. But with this, we move from the past into the present.<\/p>\n

Let us look at two very short videos:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/skolasachu.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Zaznam-Sarin-Oro-blitz-2025-pravidla-premacknuti-hodinhrubka-vtrzeni-OL.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n
https:\/\/skolasachu.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Zaznam-Martirosian-Carlsen-premacknuti-hodin.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n

Well, admirers of chess Messi Faustino Or will excuse his behaviour due to his age (in my opinion, it deserves at least a few slaps), while Magnus's supporters will have a \u201esufficient\u201c explanation for the clock pressure: \u201eIt was simply a reflex. It happens.\u201c or \u201eThe rules do not forbid it, that's what the arbiter is for, to penalise the players.\u201c Well, something like the famous Maradona hand...<\/p>\n

Arjun Erigaisi, who \u2013 if the tournament had been played more or less normally as before 2023 \u2013 should actually have won the World Blitz Championship, also had his share of trouble in the game against Carlsen.<\/p>\n

By the way, Arjun's even better results are hindered \u2013 and I fear this will be a lasting phenomenon \u2013 by terrible nervousness.<\/p>\n

The battle between Carlsen and Erigaisi was truly full of mistakes, but let us follow Carlsen's \u201efinger slip\u201c. The final extempore with the \u201eflying queen\u201c is really just the cherry on the cake. And the banging on the table, which no one else would dare, only further illustrates Magnus's character...<\/p>\n

https:\/\/skolasachu.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Zaznam-zaveru-blic-Carlsen-Erigaisi-letici-dama.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n
https:\/\/skolasachu.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Zaznam-zaveru-Carlsen-Erigaisi-9-letajici-dama-s-BUCH-1.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n

Carlsen was preparing to capture a pawn with 46.Qxa5, but he was betrayed by that very \u201efinger slip\u201c. So \u2013 as we can see in the videos, which became a hit \u2013 a dangerous projectile in the form of a white queen flew through the air, while the poor black pawn took a shorter trajectory. Magnus's outburst of anger even took the table with it \u2013 again, just like in Stavanger.<\/p>\n

However, do not expect any reprimand from the arbiters. If they dared to do so (this time justifiably and logically, unlike the \u201ejeans case\u201c from the previous championship), they would at least not \u201ewhistle\u201c in Qatar...<\/p>\n

World Rapid Chess Championship<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

After the second day of the championship, before the last four rounds, the standings of the top twenty players looked like this:<\/p>\n

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Everything was therefore open and Vladislav Artemiev, who won the duel with Carlsen in round 7, had decent prospects of victory with his tiebreak. At the same time, however, I had certain concerns because his time management was \u2013 and still is \u2013 truly dreadful! Certainly, I have long known that studying opening theory, euphemistically speaking, is not among Vladislav's hobbies. But too much is too much.<\/p>\n

After all, dear readers, I cannot and do not want to deprive you of the record of the key game of the championship. So judge for yourselves...<\/p>\n